Is your dog or cat’s poop killing the environment? Well, not exactly, but the conventional way of dealing with their waste is. Poop bags made from standard plastics are extremely harmful to the environment. They degrade into microplastics, a hazardous substance so pervasive it has recently been found within Human Blood for the first time…  So let’s learn about compostable poop bags and how to properly dispose of them so you can do your part in preserving our planet!

What’s wrong with plastic poop bags?

Using poop bags for our pets is obviously necessary, but the most common options on the market today come with a huge environmental cost. Standard plastic poop bags and so called “oxo-degradable” bags are made from a material called PE, or Polyethylene, a plastic made from fossil fuels which can take anywhere from 20 to 450+ years to decompose. 

Even when they do finally break down they leave behind hazardous materials known as microplastics. These microplastics seep their way into water courses and microcosms, only to be ingested by small creatures that eventually make it up the food chain to humans and larger animals. This not only poses a clear environmental hazard but also poses health risks as these microplastics can contain toxins such as heavy metals or other organic pollutants.

What are compostable poop bags?

Compostable poo bags are designed to degrade in the least damaging way to the environment. Tuff Pets Compostable Poop Bags are made from a blend of Cornstarch & PBAT, a material with very similar properties as Polyethylene (traditional plastic) but which degrades into safe materials in as little as 80 days. Compare that to traditional plastics which can take up to 500 years and it’s a no brainer. 

Composting these bags means that the waste material is not sent directly to landfill or released into waterways or other habitats where it could cause damage or contaminate them. Compostable bags can also help to keep soil healthier as composted waste has great organic value and improves both the texture and fertility of soil, just make sure to only use the compost containing dog waste on non-edible plants! 

Compostable poop bags are an invaluable asset when it comes to limiting damage done by traditional plastic bags, and as technology develops they are only becoming more effective at reducing our negative footprint on the planet.

How do I dispose of Compostable Poop Bags?

Compostable Poop Bags are a great alternative to traditional plastic bags, but whether or not they’re better very much depends on how they’re disposed of. Compostable plastics require a specific mix of heat, water and oxygen (aerobic conditions) for them to biodegrade effectively. So, if you take your Compostable Poop Bag home with you and compost it in the correct environment then it will break down nicely.

If done right, Compostable Poop Bags can be a great choice in reducing plastic waste.  Composting offers an opportunity for all pet owners to recycle responsibly and potentially make a change by investing in Compostable Poop Bags.  Either way, any effort made towards reducing unnecessary waste should be applauded!